Ball centering and propelling mechanism for playing boards



Dec. 4, v1951 D. R. wlsER BALL CENTERING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM FORPLAYING BOARDS 2 SHEETS-SHEET '1 Filed Dec. l5, 1947 ao 31 a2 sa z e z.f o O 0 www, Mmm/M A TTORNEK.

Dec. 4, 1951 D. R. wist-:R 2,577,222 I BALL CENTERING AND PROPELLINGMECHANISM FOR PLAYING BOARDS Filed Dec. 15, 1947 2 SHEETS-slam 2 ATTORNEKSI l l l l l, t

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED psTATEs PATENT-f OFFICE BALL CENTERING ANDPRPELLING MECH- ANISM FOR PLAYING BOARDS f Douglas R. Wiser, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application December 15, 1947, Serial No. 791,774

9 Claims. (Cl. 273-429) This invention relates to gaming devices andmore particularly to a new and improved ballcontrolling mechanismassociated with a new and improved playing board.

In game devices of the general character sometimes known as pin-ballmachines where the active role of the players consists in themanipulation of a plunger for sending a ball over a designated course orthrough any of a number of movements depending upon the skill of ,theoperator, considerable attention has been paid to the best mode ofconstruction ofthe ball-controlling mechanism associated with theplunger.

It has been found particularly desirable to create an improvedball-setting mechanism by which, when the playing ball is released forplay, it can be accurately positioned in front of the plunger. In viewof the fact that game boards of the character intended vary inconstruction and, even when of identical constructiomhave slightlydifferent individual physical and playing characteristics, itisdesirable that an accurate positioning mechanism which is readilyadjustable, be substituted for the ordinarily rigid and pre-set(andother types known to the prior art) devices.

Sometimes it is desirable yto propel the ball for accurate traversion ofthe playing eld in such a manner that the ball rolls slightly to oneside of the lane. At other times it is desirable to adjust the eectiveforce of the piston stroke by causing it to impinge against the balleither at an earlier or laterV point in its movement. Y

It is particularly desirable in devices of this character thatthe'degree of tension applied to the plunger should be capable of easyand obvious adjustment. In part this is desirable because of thenecessity of pre-setting any machine in a number of playing unitsengaged in competitiveY play so that all will operate in substantiallythe same manner. At other times, either due to wear. temperature,desires of individual players, or other indeterminate conditions, itbecomes necessary to rapidly and accurately adjust the tension of thespring or similar plunger-actuating means.

' Moreover, it is desirable that all operative parts of the plungermechanism or the apparatusassociated therewith be readily removable forreplacement or repair.

lIt is therefore an object of this playing board to provide a smoothlyoperable and readily adjustable ball-control means in order to achievethe y iesiredresults above referred to.- f

Itis another object of thisA invention to provide a new and improvedball-holding mechanism having a new and improved relationship with theplungerand the ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ballfor use with the desired form of the apparatus described.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedplunger-actuating means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedball-positioning device having a new and improved association with theAplunger means.

' Still another object of the invention is the provision. byincorporation of the above and other elements, of a new and improvedplaying board.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved ball stop or lock.

Another further object of the invention is to provide a ball-controlmechanism of the desired character which may be economicallymanufactured and assembled, which has a maximum use facility, which isstable andconsistent in operation, which will not become loosened orinoperative duringvordinary play and, which when adjustment provesnecessary, can be restored with a minimum expenditure of time andeffort.

Another and still further important object of the invention is toprovide a new and improved plunger and ball-impelling mechanism'or sucha simple operating principle and construction that its entire mode ofoperation is readily seen and understood by any interested or otherwiseskeptical player. Y

The invention also has among its objects the improvement of like devicesvheretofore-utilized in the prior art t0 accomplish a generally similarpurpose. f l Y Other objects and purposes of this invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and claims 4considered inthe light of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved playing board embodyingthis invention (parts being cut away).

Figure 2 is a plan view of the playing board.

`Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken as on a line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken as on a line 4 4 of Figure2. Y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed plan view (parts being cut away) asillustrated at the lower right-hand corner of FigureZ. y

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the parts in a diierentoperative relationship.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a playing unit generallydesignated by the numeral 20 preferably comprises a playing board 2|. Aportion of th-e board or field in front of the plunger mechanismgenerally designated at 23, may include Aa lane 2 4 optionally markedoff and separatedfromthe remainder of the playing field as by a wireguard 25. The opposite side of the lane 24 may be dened as by the curvedwall 25, usually terminatingin a bumper or rebound surface 21. Thecentral portionof `the'play-in'g'field may b-e divided into any numberof passageways as 28, 29, 3|), 3|, 32, and 33 having therein any numberof light contacts, bell-ringers 'ortlie like 34 of any conventionalconstruction. Likewise, any number of indicator lamps 35 or the like maybe connected in any desired combination with the buttons 34.

Other wire guards as 3,6 and 31 may guide a preferably rubberball acrossthe sloping playing field 2| back to a point of rest in iront of theplung-er mechanism 23, V`as will Vbe described.

Also, as is customary in playing units of this character, the playingeld maybe equipped with a cover of glass o r the like 46 as shownfragmentally in Figures l and 2.

The plunger mechanism itself heretoforejge/nerally designated at 23,preferably comprises va plunger rod 59' s lideably positioned Within anopening 5| in the front side 52 ofthe playing unit. The plunger isadditionally slideable as within a plunger guide 53 of conventionalconstruction secured in any desired manner to the surface of the frontside 52. At'its near end the plunger may be fitted with anyappropriately formed handle 54'and, preferably adjacent itsball-engaging end 56, may be tted with an annular collar 51 optionallyformed integralr therewith, sweated thereto, or loosely disposed'thereonand held in'place as by a pin (not shown) 'annular recess (not shown),-orother well-known con-V struction. Obviously, ifudesi'red, theshoulder 51 need riet be annular .in Shapehut mareempriee any suitableabutment formed in or connected to Jche plunger. red .501er a purpeee.te leedeeerleed-` Any suitable relie auchY as a Sialele e maybe Secured.in the upper faee o f the playing eld?! preferablvto one .Side Qfiheaxisef the plunger red. Ari armi! may beiermeawiih ParallelV sides6,2 and 63` eermeeieii together ai erre end 6.4 and ferrures witheerreeperldius areuaie eliges 65 and 66 respectively at its other endl,Said arm el may ebvieuely; be .formed ef VSeparate pieces joinedteeeiher 'at ther end. 64er ,at .any peint betr/eer.1 ineen@ and theengel. .It iS sometimes preferable, however, that theend1 be .bifureaiein Order that it may, stradale the plunger rod to distribute thepressure of, a coil Spring er the like.` Therarm 6l. as te beihpf itssides 62 and 63,:may be formed-with g, notchor detent 1|. Such notch isintended :to serve as a pintleand to turn or hinge upon one side 14 ofthe yoke 60. f

It is expressly not intended to excludefrom the spirit or ambit `of thisinvention'the use 'offa simple arm 6 without a'bifu'rcatio'n, nor theuse of a slotted 'plunger to receive such a'rm although players preferthat the plunger` rfod' itself be freely twistable or rotatable.V AItrriaythereforev also be formed of a single piece and'may engage theannular shoulder 51 orany other vfoi-in 'of shoulder or abutment rononly one sideof the plunger 50. Manifestlyfalso, vtl'ie' arm 16| --whilepreferably provided with an adjustable spring 10 as illustrated, may beprovided with any other form of spring and the spring so provided neednot necessarily be secured to the arm 6| between the yoke 6D and the end61, but may instead have its effective force applied in an oppositedirection as, for example, by itsattachment to the end B4. Indeed, thearm 8| may be of any desired shape, either straight or curved, and mayif such construction is preferred, be formed of any number of links. Itmay also be secured rmly, i. e. pi'Votally, to the plunger 50 as bymeans of a pin or the like, in which case the detent 1| may obviouslylbe.omitted so that the arm 6| is free to slide through Athe yoke 6U uponpivotal movement Many such simplifications or modiiicationswill readilyoccur to anyone skilled in the art .of mechanics.

The coil spring 16 may be secured to the arm Yiii las through an opening15 into which an end i6 ofthe coil spring 4may-be inserted or tied. Theother end l1V of the coil spring Vis preferably -secured to anadjustable eye bolt or the like 18. The shank 1S of thev eye -bolt ispreferably -loosely con-lined within Yand extends through anyappropria-te member or loop such as may be formed -by an eyeletiiflsecured to the playing -iield 2i Thus, theamount of tension of thecoilspring 19 may be obviously and readily adjusted'lfby threading a nut-8| thereon. If desired, said 4nut may be a wing-type for convenientadjustment by an operator or player or it may be associated with -a jamor lock nut v(not shown) to retain the same in a selected position. Inpractice, however, this expedient has not proveninecessary yor evendesi-rable.

Associated withjthe end 56 of the plunger, and optionally ofthe simple"wire form shown, a lballpositioning device may comprise' asubstantially W-shaped structure, including a pair of upturned points orends 83 and8`4. The central portion of the positioning device maycomprise substantially parallel legs 86 dening a slot '81 therebetweenthrough which a bolt 9 may extend to secure the device in anyv desiredVdegree of relative angularity with or proximity Vto the end 56 of theplunger rod. Thai; is to say, by loosenin g the bolt 96 from itsthreaded vsecurement in the playing iieldj2i, the positioning device 85may be moved a'boutso that the points 83 and 84 can engage and hold the'ball 38 in any desired position to move or'adjust, the same along orfrom side to side with respect to the end56.

As a further element 'in the `control of the ball on the playing unit, astop @9,5 may be 'formed with an upper leg 96jwliich'may be swungA intothe path of the ball as upon a verticalor pivot leg `91,piv` otallY andsldeably ponflned within a plate 9.3 secured to the playing eld for suchpurpose. Anotherhorizontal leg 99,'may ,form all' armature for a coilvll,` Upon thisV actuation of the coil the leg 99 `is attracted, therebyswinging, the armfBB into a positionmost clearly 'illustrated in FigureA6 wherein the ball 3.8, is heldaway from'jth'e end 56` of the plungerin the. mOSflJ A,advanced positionof the latter. The coil 'liVmay beenergized by .a battery ||J| .connected with the coil asby conductors||l2and |103. A switch |64' may be used either'manuaily Yorautomatically to .close a circuit between the battery and the coil legivat any desired point in the game. j

This invention features the provision -of a new and improvedball-regulating mechanism and in particular a new and improved accurateplunger-- impelling mechanism of simple, readily under'- stood,readilyobservable, and easily adjustabley justment of the holdingmechanism and the plunger tension.

Mode of operation n The mode of operation of the instant invention isbelieved readily apparent. When a player desires to cause the ball 38 toroll over the playing eld, he retracts the plunger 50 by means of thehandle 54 against the tension of the coil spring 10 which has beenadjusted to a desired extent by threading the nut 8l upon the bolt '19.The arm El thereby bears against the shoulder l and, when the plungerhandle 54 is released, drives the plunger 55 forwardly to impingeagainst the ball 38, driving the same with any desired amount of impetusand at any angle along the lane 24 and over the playing board, whence,due to the inclination of the board, it is returned as 4by the severalguides 25, 36, and 31 to said position in front of the plunger asillustrated, for example, in dotted outline in Figure 2. From saidposition it can be replayed.

Inasmuch as it is usually desirable that, the ball 38 be drivenaccurately along the lane 24, the relative alignment of the plunger andthe ball is achieved for such purpose by means of the positioning device35 whose points 83 and 84, engaging the ball at spaced points, aresubject to securemeni; in a desired position by the bolt 9G.

Upon the completion of a usually predetermined number of plays, orotherwise at the conclusion of a game, an operator may close the switchIll thereby energizing the coil |00 and attracting a portion 99comprising the armature of the ball stop so as to carry the end 95around and engage the ball, holding the same away from the end 55 of theplunger to prevent further play. To return the ball stop and release theball, upon deenergization of the coil, a spring or the like (not shown)may be employed.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of theinvention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein butis to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any andall equivalent structures.

The invention having been herein described, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a playing unit having a eld and a lane for a b-all to be played, aball centering and propelling mechanism comprising: a plunger extensibleinto said lane for playing said ball, pusher means operativelyassociated with the plunger to urge the same to one extreme of axialmovement, adjustable means including a threaded finger-piece forregulating the tension of said pusher means, said pusher meanscomprising a single pivotal element disposed transversely of saidplunger, and stationary adjustable ball-positioning means in the lanefor centerng'a ball to be .propelled by the plunger relative to saidplunger.

. 2. In a playing unit having a eld and a lane for a ball to be played,a ball centering and propelling mechanism comprising: a plungerextensible into said lane for playing said ball, pusher meansoperatively associated with the plunger to urge the same to one extremeof axial movement, adjustable means including a threaded nger-piece forregulating the tension of said pusher means, said pusher meanscomprising a single pivotal element disposed transversely of saidplunger, and adjustable ball positioning means in the lane for centeringa ball to be Dropelled by the plunger relative to said plunger, saidlast named means comprising a forked member secured to the unit,engageable with the ball and adjustable relative to the plunger, wherebythe effective direction and force applied to the ball may be regulated;

3. In. a playing unit having a eld and a lane for a ball to be played, aball centering and propelling mechanism comprising: a plunger extensibleinto said lane for playing said ball, pusher means operativelyassociated with the plunger to urge the same to one eXtreme of axialmovement, adjustable means including a threaded finger-piece forregulating the tension of said pusher means, said pusher meanscomprising a pivotal element disposed transversely of said plunger,means in the lane comprising a substantially W-shaped member. adjustablymounted in the lane to provide engagement between the ball and plunger,said member having elevated` ends secured to the unit by means of acentral portion of said member, said ends being engageable with the balland adjustable relative to the plunger, whereby the effective directionand force applied to the ball may be regulated, and stop means forholding said ball relative to said ends and the plunger to prevent play.

4. In a ball centering and propelling mechanism for a playing boardutilizing a plunger, an abutment on the plunger, a yoke secured to theplaying board at a point spaced from the plunger,

a member free to pivot within the yoke and having an arcuate portionengageable with the abutment, and adjustable spring means secured to theboard and connected With said member to regulate the tension of theplunger, said member comprising a bifurcate arm normally bearing againstsaid abutment at opposite sides of said plunger, and said memberincluding a detent forming a pintle element engageable with the yoke topermit relative rotation but prevent relative lineal movement thereof.

5. In a ball centering and propelling mechanism for a playing boardutilizing a plunger, an abutment on the plunger, a yoke secured to theplaying board at a point spaced from the plunger, a member free to pivotwithin the yoke and having an arcuate portion engageable with theabutment, and adjustable spring means secured to the board and connectedwith said member to regulate the tension of the plunger, said memberincluding a detent forming a pintle element engageable with the yoke topermit relative rotation but prevent relative lineal movement thereofand said member normally bearing against said yoke at spaced pointsrelatve to the surface of said playing board.

6. In a playing unit having a field and a lane for a ball to be played,a ball centering and propelling mechanism comprising: a plunger eX-tensible into said lane for playing said ball, an

abutment ori' said plunger, anv arm normally en gaging said abutment, apvot. for said arm spaced laterally fromV said plunger, and a springsecured to said arm and to said unit at a point spaced from the pivotand abutment, normally urging said arm pivotally against. said abutmentfor urging said plunger to a limit of extension',v said springsecurement to said unit comprising a screw-eye. a threaded extension. onthe spring* the tension of said pusher means, said. pusher meanscomprising a pivotal element disposed transversely of said plunger, aspring. secured to said element, a. ball to be played by said plunger,and means in the lane adjacent the front end of the plunger comprising asubstantially W -shaped member having elevated ends secured to the unitby means of the open, notch-like central portion of said member, saidends being enagageable with the ball, Ia screw threadable into the unit,aheadon the screw engageable with the edges of said notch portionwhereby the member may be mcved axially forward, or angularly xedly heldin any adjusted relationship tothe plunger, to regulate the effectivedirection and force applied to the ball by the plunger.

8. In a ball centering and propelling mechanism for a playing boardutilizing a plunger having a linger piece at one end for directmanipulation, anabutment onthe plunger, a yoke secured to the playingboard at a point spaced from the plunger, a member free to pivot withinthe yoke and having a portion engageable with the abut ment, andadjustable spring-secured means between said member and the playingboa-rd to regulate the tensionof the plunger and to urge said pivotalmovement of said member against said abutment to drive the plungerfreely forward when drawn back and released.

9. In a ball centering and propelling mechanism for a playing boardutilizing a plunger hav'- "ing a linger piece at one Vend for directmanipulation thereof, an abutment on the plunger, a pivot means securedto the playing boardV at a point laterally spaced from the plunger,a'lever member free to turn on the pivot means and having a portionengageable with said abutment, and

adjustable springs means secured between said member and the 'playingVVboard toY regulatel the tension of the plunger and to turn said memberon said pivot and to force said portion against said abutment to drivethe plunger freely forward when the same is operatively drawn back andreleased.

DOUGLAS R. NISEEL agee-nergens einen rlhe following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,130 Benso et al July 26, 1887655,533 Sholz Aug. 7, 199) 936,785 Kruse Oct. 12, 1909 1,374,757 NapierApr'. 12, 1921 1,897,317 McEadiern Feb. lll, 1933 2,051,229 TigermanAug. 18, 1936 2,136,060 Shyvers Nov. 8, 1938 2,219,074 Guillou Oct. 22,1940 2,226,515 Ross Dec. 2e, 1Q-i0 2,455,978 Colaluca Deo. 14, 1948

